A beneficiary of the work in Myanmar receives cash for food. Photo: NAG
Cash for food and school support after Myanmar earthquake
(LWI) - Partners of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) continue to provide cash for food and schools for children displaced by the devastating Myanmar earthquake earlier in the year. In June, almost 500 vulnerable families received money to buy food items and cover other essential needs.
“The support enabled me to buy food and cover ongoing medical expenses,” said Daw Thidar Win, a mother of six from Mandalay who broke her leg during the earthquake. She is unable to leave her home in Amanapura, and is grateful for organizations who take the time to visit people at home.
Since the 28 March earthquake, LWF local partners supported almost 2,000 families in building latrines, distributing hygiene kits and starting to reconstruct homes which collapsed because of the quake.
A mosque destroyed by the earthquake in Bone Oe, Amarapua. Photo: Private
Access challenges
There are many restrictions and other challenges for organizations seeking to provide assistance to families and communities affected by the earthquake. Four months on, humanitarian access remains restricted in several contested and remote areas, a particularly critical issue during the first part of June. Local authorities imposed a temporary halt on cash and in-kind assistance, severely affecting communities in Sagaing, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and Southern Shan States.
In June, operational challenges for aid delivery were compounded by tighter regulations and closer monitoring of activities. Additionally, evolving political dynamics in the lead-up to elections influenced the working environment for humanitarian actors. At the same time, natural disasters such as flooding and landslides posed significant risks to vulnerable communities and impacted ongoing relief efforts. Fortunately, LWF partners were able to resume activities in the latter part of June.
Despite this, LWF and its partners continue to serve communities with commitment and compassion, walking alongside those most affected. “We are never alone in this work,” a local colleague says. “Together, we build resilience even in the hardest and most difficult places.”
Integrated regional approach
Alongside the work in Myanmar, LWF also started to work in Mae Sot, along the Thai-Myanmar border with a new Education in Emergencies project. In this project 744 displaced migrant children will be supported, including 54 community teachers, many of them women.
LWF’s partners repaired the roof at New Wave School, constructed school latrines, and installed a solar-powered water system at the kindergarten which belongs to the school. Together with teachers, parents and children, they compiled sets of learning materials to support the children who have been out of school for a long time.
While the focus in Myanmar is on immediate relief for those affected by the earthquake, LWF partners also support people facing insecurity in 37 communities in Kayin, Mon, and Magway State. This rights-Based Empowerment Program aims to strengthen protection, livelihoods, and access to services for people. The project provides skills training, for example in farming techniques adapted to the climate, and workshops on the rights and responsibilities of local actors.
Daw Ma Yin Aye and her husband struggled for years with unpredictable rainfall and poor harvests. Through LWF’s partners, they learned climate-smart agricultural techniques, which transformed their lives. “We now earn MMK 150,000 (EUR 35) a day from selling vegetables,” said Daw Ma Yin Aye. “We are no longer dependent on daily labor. This does help us to plan for a better future.”
